It is no secret that golf leaders have taken great steps to draw women to the game—and they have done so with some success. Despite these efforts, roughly only 20 percent of golfers are female says the National Golf Foundation, but with millions of women showing interest in playing, golf continues to have a golden opportunity to grow.
To reach this highly sought-after demographic and increase its participation, www.GolfForHer.com was launched in January. Created by the World Golf Foundation (WGF), the highly publicized website has been shared throughout the industry, fueled by its innovative partnerships between golf’s major groups and organizations, including the LPGA, the PGA of America, the PGA TOUR, The First TEE, ClubCorp, Golf Digest as well as others.
“The ‘Golf For Her’ website is an engaging tool to introduce new and encourage existing female players by showcasing the fun, networking and lifestyle aspects of the game,” says Steve Mona, CEO of World Golf Foundation. “We strive to make it an innovative and appealing content aggregator for women golfers to visit and refer to others. The focus will be fresh, organized information while also embracing the emotional and human interest side of the game.”
The website hosts many features geared toward educating, entertaining and inspiring visitors, from first-timers to savvy veterans. The “New to Golf” section provides a gateway for prospective players to get into the game by offering tips and techniques as well as ways to get in touch with nearby facilities, instructors and players. Due to website’s well-connected organizations, “Golf For Her” can put visitors in contact with personnel and facilities almost anywhere in the country. On its “Where Do I Begin?” page, the site directs visitors to Get Golf Ready, a program designed to teach novices the game and even provides equipment to use for the series of group lessons.
Junior and competitive golfers, too, have their own sections and “The Fringe” keeps visitors updated on the latest news on women in golf. The site also directs golfers to various social media outlets and campaigns, including a recent campaign encouraging players to post pictures showing why golf is a great game for women and girls, using the Twitter hashtag, #GolfForHer.
Its “Advice” section lets users to educate themselves on a variety of topics from fitness tips to etiquette and form. The site provides a quiet way for visitors to learn basic and nuanced techniques without the pressure of a crowd.
The site has also drawn support from female players too. Launch ambassador and No. 1 player in women’s golf Stacy Lewis is an ardent supporter of the platform and her tips can be found throughout the site to help teach players the game.
Although Golf For Her does not claim to fully bridge women to the game, it does highlight and improve upon key areas where golf can evolve. By addressing the golf’s many benefits and reducing barriers keeping prospective players off the fairway, Golf For Her may provide a model for other organizations and clubs to use to draw not only women but individuals from a variety of demographics to the game.
Phillip Mike is NCA’s communications manager.